Sister Michelle Germanson, O.P., 76, died on Oct. 21, 2020. She served as president of Trinity High School from 1992 to 2018.
A member of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters since January 1965, she served on Trinity’s first board of directors in 1990, which made the decision to remain a single-gender girls high school. While serving as Dean of Students at Dominican University, she was offered the position of president at Trinity in 1992.
Under her leadership Trinity adopted the International Baccalaureate Program in 1994, becoming only the second school in the state of Illinois and the first Catholic high school in the state to adopt the program. She introduced full block scheduling in 1995, focusing solely on a college preparatory curriculum.
She launched the Technology Project in 1996 and a capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art athletic facility. The Sister Michelle Germanson Athletic Facility was dedicated in 2003.
She supported the Fine Arts Program and worked with an advisory team to build a Health and Fitness Center, dedicated in 2011 and located in the athletic facility.
During her tenure, she partnered with four principals, 14 board chairs, and 27 boards.
“She was devoted to Trinity,” said current Trinity President Laura Curley. “Her efforts were dedicated to educating and empowering young women to learn and grow to be their best.”
Trinity plans to establish a scholarship fund in her name. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online at: https://www.trinityhs.org/sistermichelle.
Join the Sinsinawa community virtually for Sister Michelle’s wake service on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 5 at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sinsinawa/portal.htm?eventId=610276&streamType=video
Tune into the funeral Mass liturgy on Friday at 10:30 a.m., Nov. 6 at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sinsinawa/portal.htm?eventId=610277&streamType=video
